Constitutional Amendments of Pakistan in 1973 Constitution

Constitutional Amendments of Pakistan Since 1973

The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan also known as the 1973 Constitution is the supreme law of Pakistan. Drafted by the government of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, with additional assistance from the country’s opposition parties, it was approved by the Parliament on 10 April and ratified on 14 August 1973.

First (1st) Constitutional Amendment:

The First Constitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was made in 1974. It added provision (2) to Article 7 which authorized every citizen of Pakistan to form a political party (except civil servants).

Moreover this amendment also added provision (3) to Article 17 which required that all political parties should inform the government about the sources of their part funds.

Second (2nd) Constitutional Amendment:

The Second Constitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was made in 1974. In the second Constitutional Amendment “Ahmadis and Qadianis” (Lahori Group) declared as non-Muslim and minorities in Pakistan.

Third (3rd) Constitutional Amendment:

The Third Constitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was also made in 1974. In the Third Constitutional Amendment of Pakistan amended Article 10 and withdrew the cover granted to person found involved in anti-state activities that they could not be detained for more than 24 months.

Fourth (4th) Constitutional Amendment:

The Fourth Constitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was made in 1975. The Fourth Constitutional Amendment of Pakistan added six seats for minorities to the National Assembly and withdrew power from High Court to grant bail to the persons involved in anti-state activities.

Fifth (5th) Constitutional Amendment:

The Fifth Constitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was made in 1976. The Fifth Constitutional Amendment of Pakistan restricted a person to become governor of a province of his domicile.

Sixth (6th) Constitutional Amendment:

The SixthConstitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was made in 1976. The Sixth Constitutional Amendment of Pakistan defined advisers and parliamentary secretaries to the Prime Minister, Chief Minister, Chairmen Law Commission and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister.

Seventh (7th) Constitutional Amendment:

The SeventhConstitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was made in 1977. The Seventh Constitutional Amendment of Pakistan authorized the Prime Minister to advise the President to hold referendum on any issue of national importance.

Eighth (8th) Constitutional Amendment:

The SeventhConstitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was made in 1985. The controversial eight amendment was passed during Gen Zia ul Haq era in 1985 by an assembly which was the product of non-party elections. This amendment actually amended Articles numbers 48, 51, 56, 58, 60, 75, 90, 91, 101, 105, 106, 130, 150-A and 270-A of the 1973 Constitution.

The amendment in Article 48 authorized the President to dissolve the assembly if the conditions in the country did not permit the functioning of the federal government.

The eighth amendment enhanced the power of the President very much.

Ninth (9th) Constitutional Amendment:

The NinthConstitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was made in 1985. The Ninth Constitutional Amendment of Pakistan declared Quran and Sunnah as the Supreme law of Pakistan.

Tenth (10th) Constitutional Amendment:

The TenthConstitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was made in 1987. The Tenth Constitutional Amendment of Pakistan reduced the duration of the senate session from 160 to 130 days.

Eleventh (11th) Constitutional Amendment:

The EleventhConstitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was made in 1989. The Eleventh Constitutional Amendment (Shariat Bill) was introduced in the senate. It became time barred and could not be presented in the national assembly.

Twelfth (12th) Constitutional Amendment:

The TwelfthConstitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was made in 1991. The Twelfth Constitutional Amendment of Pakistan established special courts for the prevention of terrorism.

Thirteenth (13th) Constitutional Amendment:

The ThirteenthConstitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was made in 1997. The Thirteenth Constitutional Amendment of Pakistan deleted Articles 58(2)B and 112(2)C from the 1973 constitution.

Thus the President and Governors of Pakistan were deprived of their powers to dissolve the assemblies. It also withdrew Presidents discretionary powers to appoint Chiefs of Armed Forces and the Governors of the Provinces.

Fourteenth (14th) Constitutional Amendment:

The FourteenthConstitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was also made in 1997. The FourteenthConstitutional Amendment of Pakistan declared floor crossing as an illegal act.

Fifteenth (15th) Constitutional Amendment:

The FifteenthConstitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was made in 1998. The FifteenthConstitutional Amendment of Pakistan declared Shariat Bill.

Sixteenth (16th) Constitutional Amendment:

The SixteenthConstitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was made in 1999. The SixteenthConstitutional Amendment of Pakistan extended the quota system for another 20 years.

Seventeenth (17th) Constitutional Amendment:

The SeventeenthConstitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was made in 2003. The SeventeenthConstitutional Amendment of Pakistan restored 58(2)b.

Under this Amendment Articles 41, 58, 112, 151-A, 179, 195, 243, 268, 270-A have been amended. It empowered the President to dissolve the assemblies.

Eighteenth (18th) Constitutional Amendment:

The EighteenthConstitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was made in 2010. In the EighteenthConstitutional Amendment of Pakistan Judicial Commission created and number senate seats increased from 100 to 104.

Nineteenth (19th) Constitutional Amendment:

The NineteenthConstitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was made in 2011. In the NineteenthConstitutional Amendment of Pakistan number of senior judges as member of the Judicial Commission has been raised from two to four.

Twentieth (20th) Constitutional Amendment:

The TwentiethConstitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was made in 2012. The TwentiethConstitutional Amendment of Pakistan provided for constituting an eight member committee each at the center and the Provinces to nominate the Prime Minister and the Chief Ministers receptively along with their cabinets.

Twenty-first (21st) Constitutional Amendment:

The Twenty-firstConstitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was made in 2015. The Twenty-firstConstitutional Amendment of Pakistan is related about Establishment of military courts in Pakistan.

Twenty-second (22nd) Constitutional Amendment:

The Twenty-secondConstitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was made in 2016. In the Twenty-secondConstitutional Amendment of Pakistan Bureaucrats and Technocrats also will become members of Election Commission of Pakistan.

Twenty-third (23rd) Constitutional Amendment:

The Twenty-thirdConstitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was made in April,2017. In 2015, National Assembly passed the 21st Amendment and created the military courts for the period of 2 years. The period of two years was expired on 6th January 2017 hence this 23rd Amendment was passed to re-establish the military courts for further two years till 6th January 2019. At the end of this period all the amendments will be expired/removed automatically.

Twenty-fourth (24th) Constitutional Amendment:

The Twenty-fourthConstitutional Amendment in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan was made in Nov,2017. The 24th Constitutional Amendment Bill 2017 will allow the conduct of delimitation of constituencies on the basis of provisional census results.